Im getting ready to install a shift kit in my th400 its a B&M Shift kit. What are some pointers I might need to know? I will be installing this with the transmission in the car so any tips about that will be helpful. Thanks in advance.

 

read and re-read directions

if the front of car is higher than the rear, remove pan bolts starting from back working your way to front on each side, fluid will begin to leak out, when there are two bolts left in front, push pan up with hand and remove last two bolts, take both hands now and let the back of the pan tip down and spill into catch pan

valve body is cast iron and kinda heavy, take all bolts out except one in center then hold up while removing last bolt, shift valve will slide out of valve body

keep everything very clean and grit free

use trans assembly grease to hold rubber or steel ***** to either transfer plate or in channels of case

no sealer goes on transfer plate gaskets

don't over tighten valve body

expect to get drops of trans fluid in your eyes

put pan gasket on with no sealant after making sure pan rails are nice and flat, don't over-tighten...suggest using a cork gasket, not thin black one, the kit should include a new filter

take your time and check your work

drop to ground, put in park, put 4 quarts in, start it, hope your linkage was installed to where is not actually in a gear other than park or neutral, fill to full line, get in and put in each gear, get out and check fluids again, test drive and check for leaks and check fluid level again

good luck and have fun chirpin' the tires

PS normal amount of wear material to find in pan is about the diameter of a dime or nickel and usually in firm flat clump stuck to pan bottom, if you have a lot of metal or fiber material, you trans days are numbered

 

I have a deep aluminum B&M Pan so i have a drain plug. I have been looking at the Transgo Reprogramming kit has anyone used one of these.

 

i have used both B&M and Transgo kits. if you were rebuilding the tranny, i'd say get the Transgo; there are some changes that can be made easier with tranny out of car. to do all work under the car, either will work although not exactly the same. independent professional rebuilders seem to prefer Transgo.
BTW, are you in the vets with vettes club?

 

back to the top with another question. Is there supposed to be a ground strap on a turbo 400. looking around at www.bulkpart.com they have a ground strap listed under mis. parts under the th400 catagory.

 

i'm not aware of any corvette factory ground strap. there is a ground wire with a ring terminal on the pass side on one of the bellhousing bolts. but that ground is for accessories on the pass side of the engine generally. the th400s have an electric kick down solenoid where the ground has to make its way through the bellhousing to the engine ground. i notice that the connector has a place for a ground, but mine does not have a ground wire. that would be a better solution than a ground strap i think, if it were needed.

 

yeah i did not think it had one but just wanted to make sure